Which world are you on? We mostly play on Northern Shiverpeaks (my family and I, I mean, but I'm kind of on a break at the moment). It's pretty easy to get back into the game; just start a level 1 and do all the tutorials and quests and such, and you'll not only level quickly, but you'll get the new mechanics too.

The two sides to every story are true and false, not yours and theirs. Facts are not political; lies are. - Deven Green (Mrs. Betty Bowers)

ArenaNet was at the Paris Games Week this year, and I have two codes for GW2 Heroic Edition if anyone in this thread wants them: they're for new accounts, so this is if you want to introduce someone to the game. Just PM me for them.
There's also a code for Path of Fire half off (if anyone here hasn't gotten it yet, you really should): use the code PGW50 at checkout in the store (that's valid until November 5th).
Finally, there's a code for 15% off merchandise in the store, it's GW2PARIS18, and it's valid until November 30th.

It hurts since I've been playing since 2005 and their Halloween event has always been my favorite, but I can't bring myself to even launch the game so long as Mike O'Brien is still there (due to his cowardly firing of Jessica Price and Peter Fries to appease reddit trolls).

It hurts since I've been playing since 2005 and their Halloween event has always been my favorite, but I can't bring myself to even launch the game so long as Mike O'Brien is still there (due to his cowardly firing of Jessica Price and Peter Fries to appease reddit trolls).

It hurts since I've been playing since 2005 and their Halloween event has always been my favorite, but I can't bring myself to even launch the game so long as Mike O'Brien is still there (due to his cowardly firing of Jessica Price and Peter Fries to appease reddit trolls).

What I've laid out is what happens chronologically. I'd recommend getting it all, it's not impossible to catch up (just ask Higgledy), but if you had to get one, I'd say you should get Path of Fire for sure. I was one of the skeptics when they were announced, but mounts have been a complete game changer, and in a good way.
The living world are great content, but be advised they a metric ton of new currencies. Thank goodness for the wallet, or I'd never keep them straight.

In reality: Cheshire in the UK. In game: Taking screenshots beyond number.

It’s definitely possible to catch up. I started playing less than a year ago and we’ve played the main game, both expansions, and some living story.

It feels like heart of thorns was a massive learning experience for them in terms of enemies, level design and how much to try and squeeze into an expansion in an attempt to keep people playing. Both expansions up the challenge and not always in a way that keeps the game feeling fun but, yes PoF is worth it for the mounts and it’s fun to get them.

Griffon is mostly soloable, that’s how I did it. There are two events that require a group, but sit on the map and wait for people to call them out. Especially on weekends, there are always people doing those events (I’m thinking of Deadhouse and Corrupted Facet too).

So I just bought the expansions for this because they're on sale, and I've been wanting an excuse to get back in. I'm gonna delete my previous characters and start fresh though, because I've NO idea what I'm doing. How do I get back into the guild with y'all?

So I just bought the expansions for this because they're on sale, and I've been wanting an excuse to get back in. I'm gonna delete my previous characters and start fresh though, because I've NO idea what I'm doing. How do I get back into the guild with y'all?

Thanks!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! DON'T DO THAT!!!!! You'll lose all of your character's history and the birthday gifts they get!!!

As for getting in the guild, give me a character name or your account name (mine's Eleima.1234 or something), and I'll toss you an invite.

It's NORMAL to not know what you're doing because there's so damn much. If at all possible, find a buddy, a sherpa if you will, to help you navigate everything. And take it step by step or you'll drown, because it can be so damn overwhelming.

I second what Eleima says. There's no need to wipe, because you'll scale down as you go back into lower areas. So you can mess around safely and remember what's going on without having to waste your characters.

You'd be very upset with yourself, even in just a week or so, if you did that.

The two sides to every story are true and false, not yours and theirs. Facts are not political; lies are. - Deven Green (Mrs. Betty Bowers)

If you really want to start over, you can just leave your old character and start up a new one in a new slot -- no deletion required. I didn't get on well as a Mesmer or Elementalist, but hit my stride as a Warrior. But I still have all three characters. You should have five slots, or two if you have the free-to-play version.

I would wait at least a few days until the skills and traits and gear property systems come back to you. Play a bit at or below level and gain a few levels so you aren't lost, *then* zap someone to 80.

The reason is that when you get to 80, you'll have to go through a brief but relatively tough set of quests to get to the level 80 areas. (Relatively tough meaning you won't be well-geared for it, most likely; you'll do okay but it was daunting to me at first, so I point it out.) It can be even harder if you don't recall (or look up) good skill/trait configs and match them to your gear and fighting style.

It's not dire if you do just pop to 80, though. It'll just be easier after you're comfortable with the systems again.

The two sides to every story are true and false, not yours and theirs. Facts are not political; lies are. - Deven Green (Mrs. Betty Bowers)

I definitely would NOT recommend using a level 80 boost. Getting to level 80 is only the beginning of the game but it serves as a learning curve for your character’s skills. It has a purpose.
I’d definitely stick to ranger, it’s a great class, a more durable one, the pet is a fun mechanic (gotta catch them all!). You can even name your pet.
Also, if you’ve got one character on the guild, they all will be. It’s account based. The only thing you will need to be mindful of is whether or not you’re “representing” (showing your GWJ colors, but even that’s not a hard requirement with the game now juggling multiple guilds and their respective chats.